Suspended ceiling clip and method of use

ABSTRACT

A suspended ceiling system for clipping truss and wall mounted track members together, the system including a clip including a U channel adapted to clip onto a top section of a truss. The clip also including a flange rigidly connected to one end of the U channel and depending substantially perpendicularly there from; the flange adapted to be sandwiched between an inner face of a vertical member of the track and the wall, such that the flange wedged between the vertical member of the track and the wall.

The present invention claims priority from previously regularly filed U.S. provisional application No. 60/823,539 filed Aug. 25, 2006 by George Jaic under the title Suspended Ceiling Clip and Method of Use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to suspended ceiling systems, in particular relates to a clip for use with suspended ceilings and a method of using the clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently suspended ceilings are held in place using track members which are fastened to the walls below the existing ceiling and cross truss members which are supported by attachment to each other and also, onto the track members. The track members usually include a support member and the truss members also usually include support flanges for placing the ceiling tiles thereon.

The difficulty with existing systems is that these track and truss sections tend to easily move about and are not rigidly held in position, thereby making it difficult to install the track and truss member making it difficult to install the ceiling tiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A suspended ceiling system for clipping truss and wall mounted track members together, said system including:

-   -   a) a clip including a U channel adapted to clip onto a top         section of a truss,     -   b) the clip also including a flange rigidly connected to one end         of the U channel and depending substantially perpendicularly         there from; the flange adapted to be sandwiched between an inner         face of a vertical member of the track and the wall, such that         the flange wedged between the vertical member of the track and         the wall.

The system wherein the open portion of the U defined by the U channel being a slot opening, such that the U channel for receiving a top-section of the truss there through.

The system wherein the clip including a right gripping member and a left gripping member for gripping the top section of the truss.

The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the clip including a top opening for receiving a portion of the top section of truss there in.

The system wherein the track being L shaped, the legs of the L including a vertical member and a perpendicularly disposed support member extending from the vertical member.

The system wherein the truss including a web attached at one end to the top section and at the other end to perpendicularly disposed support flanges.

A clip for use with suspended ceilings having truss members and wall mounted track, the clip comprising;

-   -   a) a U channel wherein the opening of the U defining a slot         opening;     -   b) and a flange perpendicularly disposed to the U channel,     -   c) wherein the flange including a clamping area for clamping the         flange between an inner face of the track and the wall.

The clip wherein the legs of the U channel including a right side gripping member and a left side gripping member joined together by a top side, wherein the gripping members for gripping around a top section of the truss.

The clip wherein the gripping members dimensioned, and adapted to conform around the outer surface of the top section.

The clip wherein the flange being a planar flat portion dimensioned to fit between the inner face of the track and the wall.

The clip further including a top opening defined in a top portion of the clip, the top opening for receiving a portion of the truss therein.

The clip wherein the flange including a clamping area for clamping the flange between an inner face of the track and the wall.

In combination a wall mounted track, a truss, and a clip for clipping together the track and truss, the combination comprising:

-   -   a) the track including a vertical member which is fastened to a         wall, and a support member for receiving the trusses thereon,     -   b) the truss including a top section for receiving the clip         there around,     -   c) the clip including a U channel having a slot opening, for         receiving the top section of the truss therein, and further         including a flange for sandwiching between the vertical member         and the wall.

The combination wherein the legs of the U channel including a right side gripping member and a left side gripping member joined together by a top side, wherein the gripping members for gripping around a top section of the truss.

The combination wherein the flange being a planar flat portion dimensioned to fit between the inner face of the track and the wall.

The combination wherein the flange including a clamping area for clamping the flange between an inner face of the track and the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The device depicted will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an end plan view of the clip shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the clip shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the clip.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the clip shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a clip shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional plan view showing a truss in cross sectional view and a track in side elevational view together with a clip attached to the upper portion of the truss.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view showing the track in cross sectional view together with a side elevational view of the truss section with a clip mounted thereon and a flange in behind the inner face of the track.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a typical suspended ceiling arrangement showing tracks and trusses arranged together with a clip.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective schematic view of a clip shown deployed with a track shown in dotted lines and a truss shown in dotted lines showing the clip in an installed position with the flange mounted in behind the inner face of the track and the clip u-channel portion clipped onto the top section of the truss.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The suspended ceiling clip and its method of use are shown and described in FIGS. 1 through 10 inclusively. The clip used in the installation of suspended ceilings is shown generally as 100 and depicted in FIGS. 1 through 6. Clip 100 includes a u-channel section 102, a flange 104, a top side 106, a right side 108, a left side 110, left gripping member 112, a right gripping member 114, a slot opening 116 located along the bottom of u-channel 102 and a top opening 118 located on the top of u-channel 102. Clip 100 also includes reinforcing ribs 120 to strengthen the structure and to increase the rigidity. The reader will note that flange 104 depends perpendicular to the u-channel 102 and preferably clip 100 is manufactured using the plastic injection molding method known to persons skilled in the art, however it could be manufactured in many other fashions which are known to a persons skilled in the art.

Clip 100 preferably is made of plastic material, however it could also be made out of metal and numerous other materials, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages depending upon the application.

In use the clip is depicted in an installed position 290 in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10. In these Figures the clip is shown together with a suspended ceiling truss and track structure which includes trusses 200 as well as tracks 202 which typically make up a suspended ceiling truss and track members. Referring to FIG. 9 for example, a series of track members 202 and truss members 200 are erected and installed in order to form a frame work in which ceiling tiles can be laid and suspended just below the actual ceiling within the building. This is normally termed a suspended ceiling.

Track 202 usually includes a vertical member 206 which is fastened to a wall with the inner face 230 of track 202 being adjacent to the wall. Track 202 further includes a support member 204 for receiving truss sections thereon as well as ceiling tiles. Once all of the tracks 202 are installed along the outer periphery of the wall, one is then in a position to install the trusses 200 as shown in FIG. 9 and they are usually arranged in perpendicular fashion to each other, particularly if the tiles are square and/or rectangular in shape. Track 202 includes an inner face 230, and outer face 232 a vertical member 206 and a support member 204. Support member 204 serves to support the trusses 200 as well as the ceiling tiles not shown in the diagram. Truss 200 includes support flanges 210, depending perpendicular to webs 220 and a reinforced top section 212 which is usually square or rectangular in cross section as best shown in FIG. 7. The support flanges 210 are positioned onto the top of support member 204 in order to hold up trusses 200 in order to create the suspended ceiling frame work. Where trusses 200 cross each other, numerous different attachment means are used.

Clip 100 is positioned over the top of the top section 212 of truss 200, such that flange 102 depends downwardly and is sandwiched in between the inner face 230 of the vertical member 206 of track 202 and the wall material such as drywall and/or paneling not shown. Since inner face 230 of track 202 is rigidly connected to the wall, flange 104 must be forcibly urged in behind inner face 230 of vertical member 206 of track 202 in order to be installed.

The right side 108 and the left side of 110 of clip 100 are adapted to resiliently open and close as u-channel 102 is forced overtop of top section 212 of truss 200. The right side 108 and left side 110 flex apart and can be urged overtop of the top section 212 of truss 200 until u-channel 102 is clipped over top of top section 212 of truss 200 as in the installed position 290 as shown in FIG. 7 and also in FIG. 10.

In the installed position 290, right gripping member, 114 and left gripping member 112 ensure that clip 100 is held firmly in place over top section 212 as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

As best shown in FIG. 10 with clip 100 in place over top of truss 200 and with the clamping area 199 of flange 104 sandwiched between inner face 230 of track 202 and the wall not shown, clip 100 firmly positions truss 200 permanently along track 202, such that it cannot be easily moved due to the friction between flange 104 and track 202 and the wall.

In this manner, the frame work for the suspended ceiling can be more or less held in place during the installation process of the truss 200 onto the tracks 202 and then further more during the installation of the ceiling tiles thereafter. 

1) A suspended ceiling system for clipping truss and wall mounted track members together, said system including: a) a clip including a U channel adapted to clip onto a top section of a truss, b) the clip also including a flange rigidly connected to one end of the U channel and depending substantially perpendicularly there from; the flange adapted to be sandwiched between an inner face of a vertical member of the track and the wall, such that the flange wedged between the vertical member of the track and the wall. 2) The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the open portion of the U defined by the U channel being a slot opening, such that the U channel for receiving a top section of the truss there through. 3) The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the clip including a right gripping member and a left gripping member for gripping the top section of the truss. 4) The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the clip including a top opening for receiving a portion of the top section of truss there in. 5) The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the track being L shaped, the legs of the L including a vertical member and a perpendicularly disposed support member extending from the vertical member. 6) The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the truss including a web attached at one end to the top section and at the other end to perpendicularly disposed support flanges. 7) A clip for use with suspended ceilings having truss members and wall mounted track, the clip comprising; a) a U channel wherein the opening of the U defining a slot opening; b) and a flange perpendicularly disposed to the U channel, c) wherein the flange including a clamping area for clamping the flange between an inner face of the track and the wall. 8) The clip claimed in claim 7 wherein the legs of the U channel including a right side gripping member and a left side gripping member joined together by a top side, wherein the gripping members for gripping around a top section of the truss. 9) The clip claimed in claim 8 wherein the gripping members dimensioned and adapted to conform around the outer surface of the top section. 10) The clip claimed in claim 7 wherein the flange being a planar flat portion dimensioned to fit between the inner face of the track and the wall. 11) The clip claimed in claim 7 further including a top opening defined in a top portion of the clip, the top opening for receiving a portion of the truss therein. 12) The clip claimed in claim 7 wherein the flange including a clamping area for clamping the flange between an inner face of the track and the wall. 13) In combination a wall mounted track, a truss, and a clip for clipping together the track and truss, the combination comprising: a) the track including a vertical member which is fastened to a wall, and a support member for receiving the trusses thereon, b) the truss including a top section for receiving the clip there around, c) the clip including a U channel having a slot opening, for receiving the top section of the truss therein, and further including a flange for sandwiching between the vertical member and the wall. 14) The combination claimed in claim 13 wherein the legs of the U channel including a right side gripping member and a left side gripping, member joined together by a top side, wherein the gripping members for gripping around a top section of the truss. 15) The combination claimed in claim 13 wherein the flange being a planar flat portion dimensioned to fit between the inner face of the track and the wall. 16) The combination claimed in claim 13 wherein the flange including a clamping area for clamping the flange between an inner face of the track and the wall. 